Hey, what's up? I'm Hopeless Author, ready to take you on another ride through the realms of chaos and fate. Buckle up, because in this chapter, Saving the Gods, we throw logic out the window (again) and dive headfirst into a crossover so intense it might break reality, or at least give you a serious headache.
Plot? Pfft, who needs one? Just kidding... sort of. As will surprise no one, Shirou Emiya finds himself in a predicament that involves, you guessed it, saving literal gods. How did he get here? Well, when you mix Fate/stay night with Ni Tian Xie Shen (Against the Gods), you get a recipe for divine chaos and a wrench in the shape of Shirou thrown into a new adventure that only old Kischur Zelretch could answer... or maybe nope?, who knows after all...
So well, not even I know... after my sixth Redbull here we are with the caffeine to the max.
Wait: So that's all, well we'll also see Yun Che, obviously so well, that's not the important thing, but to see what the hell we'll face, what bad and delicate decisions we'll have to face in order to stay safe...
Although I won't lie... we'll have a couple of rather sharp jokes throughout the plot... (if anyone in this story still has any).
So sit back and enjoy Shirou juggling swords, fate, and his sanity, all while trying to figure out if saving the gods comes with a dental plan.
This is a fanfiction work created by me, Hopeless Author, and is inspired by the Fate/stay night and Ni Tian Xie Shen (Against the Gods) series. All rights to the original characters, concepts, and universes belong to their respective creators and owners.
The air in the Golden Valley was thick with the oppressive energy of primordial fire. The chain of volcanoes, now dormant, radiated searing heat as magma in perpetual eruption carved jagged scars into the fractured ground.
Shirou moved forward slowly, each step resonating with the rhythmic pulse of the earth beneath his feet. The pendant around his neck glimmered faintly, the ruby darkening mysteriously for a fleeting moment before returning to its usual, serene state.
—You're here.
The deep voice of the Golden Crow Spirit shattered the silence. Its golden eyes flared open with fierce intensity, flooding the space with a brilliance that radiated immense power. The lingering remnants of malignant energy were suppressed and drawn into the tribal markings that adorned the red-haired youth's body, vanishing as they were absorbed.
—Indeed. I've returned after fully assimilating your blessing. Curiously, though, the remaining drops of blood weren't as much of a challenge as I had expected. —Shirou's gaze lifted, his voice calm but firm—. I'm certain that my will and power won't disappoint you, having inherited them. Currently, I stand at least in the mid-stage of the Divine Tribulation Realm.
A heavy silence settled between them.
Shirou remained upright, his unwavering gaze fixed on the Spirit.
—However, I suspect there's a reason you summoned me earlier than anticipated.
The Golden Crow Spirit, usually stern, cast its gaze upon the small black sphere rotating slowly in Shirou's left hand. The energy it exuded was unnatural, a vortex of death and desolation that twisted the very space around it.
—It seems the miracle I have long awaited has finally emerged in the Realm of the Gods. Yet, regrettably, it was first claimed by the unworthy Sect of the Divine Ice Phoenix. —The golden eyes narrowed, a dark gleam flashing within—. I fear that this time, young successor, your role in the ancient prophecy has become unmistakably clear. From our first encounter, I knew that the mysterious energy you possess… does not belong to this plane.
Shirou clenched the sphere tightly, his expression darkening as the weight of those words pressed into his heart. He was no longer the naive boy he had once been, yet even in their third meeting, his respect for the being before him had deepened—here, in this inferno of flames that he was beginning to call home.
—Divine Spirit, if the disaster of the Crimson Rift were to occur one day, would I be able to aid the chosen one? I am not yet strong enough to defy the will of destiny, even with the power I wield now.
—You are, without a doubt, a being beyond the destiny of the gods themselves. That is precisely why you alone can wield The World-Burning Record of the Golden Crow to its fullest potential—something unseen since ancient times, when I reigned over the skies of the East. Though I have known of your existence for over a millennium, it was the incident three years ago that led me to reevaluate you, beyond the role the heavens had originally assigned.
—I don't understand. —Shirou frowned, confusion clouding his mind—. How was it possible for me to lose my original memory? Does it mean nothing that I lived over a thousand years in the Realm of the Flame God, only to have all of it vanish in an instant? All for the sake of regaining my past life's memories?
—Indeed… a thousand years is a long time for humans. But losing so much is no mere twist of fate—it is the result of deliberate design, though its orchestrator remains unknown. —The Golden Crow paused, its gaze intensifying—. That misfortune, within The Hell Prison Where Gods Are Buried, was the very reason I longed for you to appear before me. Imagine my delight when I realized how special you had become—especially given the mark left by that dark energy within you. Do you remember it?
Shirou closed his eyes, fragments of memory from his battle within the corrupted grail flickering in his mind.
—Yes, I remember. That energy is the source of all evil from a forgotten God of Darkness. Despite belonging to a lower-ranked star realm, it was tainted and magnified by the force of primordial chaos.
The black sphere in his hand vibrated, the air around it darkening as it absorbed some of the infernal heat surrounding them.
—Your sacrifice was noble —the Golden Crow remarked with genuine respect—. But nobility always comes with a price. Who was the object of your protection?
Shirou drew a deep breath, his eyes kindling with renewed fire.
—In this life… it was the Master of the Divine Ice Phoenix Sect. She was battling the Horned Dragon, and I intervened recklessly. In my previous life… I tried to give my life to save Illya.
The Golden Crow inclined its head, acknowledging the weight of his words.
Before them, the fleeting image of a young girl appeared—long white hair cascading down her back, her white dress adorned with golden embellishments, and seven rings glowing with magical light.
"Are you speaking of that homunculus princess who bore the weight of an immense fate amidst a bloody competition for such a mundane wish? To you, all this time… was she a burden, despite giving everything to protect her—no matter the cost?"
"She was never a burden to me. After all… she was my older sister—the one I betrayed to survive." Shirou swallowed the knot tightening in his throat. "Because deep down, I still held the selfish desire to keep living. In the end, she gave her life to protect me…"
"Did you ever imagine that regaining the memories of your past life would burden you with such pain and suffering—suffering so profound that it still lingers in the depths of your soul?" The Golden Crow Spirit tilted its head, its eyes reflecting a dark understanding. "Young master of the Clan…"
Shirou clenched his fists, his fingers trembling under the weight of his memories. "I never expected it… But that no longer matters." Iridescent energy flickered around him, tracing blue lines that pulsed across his left arm like a heartbeat.
"It was my choice—and I failed."
At that moment, the black sphere in his hand surged dangerously, filling the silence with a heavy, unspoken truth.
"Yes. Because I alone witnessed it in that cavern—I was the only spectator of the true magic of 'Heaven's Feel.'"
"You are more than memories and mistakes, Shirou Emiya," the Golden Crow's voice softened. "Do not forget that what was lost can be regained. But the cursed power you now bear is a legacy no man should accept without a fight."
Shirou raised his gaze, his resolve hardening as he dispelled the orb of darkness. "Then teach me. If I must carry this power, I will master it."
A crooked smile stretched across the Golden Crow's face. "Interesting…"
From within Shirou's very flesh, a dark red light coalesced. Two swords—Kanshou and Bakuya—manifested, their tragic harmony resonating through the air, heavy with the weight of infinite choices.
"So, you've inherited the arm of a forgotten hero—an arm forged of rusted iron," the Golden Crow laughed, a sound deep and thunderous. "The legacy of one who accepted a Contract of Unjust Fate. Soon enough, Shirou Emiya, you will face the one for whom these swords were made…"
"What are you saying? Who is that true hero of destiny?"
The golden fire in the Crow's eyes burned brighter, casting colossal shadows that twisted and stretched across the scorched ground of the valley.
"Someone like you. A warrior who will not bend, yet walks the path of destruction. You are destined to support him… or to stop him. A prophecy is not a cage—it is a flame that burns until it consumes the sky."
Golden flames surged higher, dancing wildly in the searing air. Shirou tightened his grip, the weight of Kanshou and Bakuya grounding his resolve.
"I do not fear that fate," he declared, his voice unwavering. "If the choice is mine, I will fight with everything I am."
The Golden Crow roared with laughter, a sound that echoed like thunder across the heart of the valley.
"So be it! Shirou Emiya, we shall forge your soul in the eternal golden fire, so that when the time comes and you stand before the true child of destiny, you will either become a true hero… or his last hope."
Final Words: So my dear let's talk a little, to be honest I don't even know where we're going with this, I have a couple of not so interesting stories there in the stories section... so well I don't know if you're interested, but well, you can also tell me what you think with a little review... it's better to at least spend time enjoying your favorite snack (may I suggest Pocky or ramen?), so sit back and let's see if Shirou can achieve ultimate salvation in some other crossover.
Will he emerge as a hero or is he just a really unlucky guy with a knack for getting into trouble, in this case at a god level? Either way, I hope you liked it...
See you in the multiverse, friends! Remember, if a god offers you a "small favor", run in the opposite direction. Quick.